Stoll's absence has Kings scrambling to fill holes

When asked for an update on injured center Jarret Stoll, Sutter said simply, "Missing in action." When asked whether Stoll might be sidelined long-term, Sutter asked, "How long is the series?"

"I really don't know," he added when pressed about Stoll's absence.

Stoll won't play in Game 2 of the Kings' second-round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks tonight at Staples Center. Neither will Raffi Torres of the Sharks, the man who slammed his shoulder into Stoll's head in the final minute of the second period Tuesday in Game 1.

Torres is scheduled to have a hearing with NHL officials today in New York, and won't be available to play tonight in Los Angeles. He is what's known as a repeat offender, having drawn a 25-game suspension last season for thumping Marian Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks last spring.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman later reduced the ban to 21 games.

"It's just frustrating to see that, that's all," Sutter said of Torres' hit on Stoll during the Kings' 2-0 victory Tuesday. "He's a really good player for us. He was a big part of winning the Stanley Cup. He's a really good center, a guy who plays a lot of minutes, plays on the special teams.

"Obviously, our player is quite a bit more important than theirs."

The Kings skated through the playoffs last season without suffering an injury that impacted their postseason roster, but now their depth and their resolve will be tested as they attempt to defend the first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.

Stoll's absence would be difficult enough to absorb, but he one four key players from last season's Cup roster sidelined by injuries. Left wing Kyle Clifford has an upper-body injury and defensemen Matt Greene (back) and Willie Mitchell (knee) are also out of the lineup.

Brad Richardson is expected to take Stoll's spot in the lineup tonight.

"I'm just trying to think back to last year (and) the stability was on the back end," Sutter said, referring to his defense corps. "That will never, ever happen again, to use the same six defensemen from basically the trading deadline to the middle of June. It's impossible in today's game.

"And the play up front, last year looking back at it, we used different forwards, but out top nine, they all played every game (in the playoffs)."

Of Richardson, who has played in only one of the Kings' seven playoff games, Sutter added, "We've got good options. Brad's a guy who's used to playing on our top nine. We'll figure that out."

It remains to be seen if Richardson will take the key faceoffs Stoll would take. Or play on the penalty-killing unit. Mostly likely the assignments will fall to a number of others, including perhaps center Colin Fraser, another valuable depth player for the Kings.

"Playoff time is big and you want to play your best," Richardson said of the possibility of filling in for Stoll. "If I'm in (the lineup), I'm going to play the best game I can. (Stoll) is one of our clutch players. He's the first guy on the penalty-kill and plays a lot of minutes.

"Sometimes you've got to battle and have some other guys step up."

Said Fraser: "You never want to see Stoll go down. He's a big piece to our puzzle. He's a veteran guy who's played a lot of playoff games and, obviously, is a big key to our team. But that being said, you've got to move forward. Other guys are gong to have to step up and fill the void."

In other news, Sutter revealed the Kings would return to Southern California after Game 3 on Saturday in San Jose and practice Sunday and Monday before flying back to Northern California for Game 4 on Tuesday at HP Pavilion.